A devastating fire erupted at the Akim timber market in Calabar, Cross River State, on Friday night, engulfing more than 100 shops and inflicting severe financial damage on local traders.
The blaze broke out in the evening after most vendors had closed their shops for the day. Eyewitnesses captured video footage at approximately 9:18 p.m., showing the flames still consuming structures in the market.
According to traders, the market is a vital hub for timber and related businesses within the state capital, housing planks and timber products worth millions of naira.
Witnesses reported that the fire caused widespread damage. After hearing about the incident, many traders hurried back to the market to evaluate the destruction and attempt to save whatever goods they could.
The precise cause of the fire is still under investigation. Reports indicate that most of the market stalls were substantially damaged.
A witness named Michael Ene stated that as of 9:45 p.m., there had been no response from the fire service to the ongoing situation.
Officials from the state fire service have not yet provided any official comment regarding the fire incident.
This recent event marks a troubling trend, as fire outbreaks have been increasing in Cross River State recently. Just two days prior, on March 26, another fire caused heavy property damage in Okuku, Yala Local Government Area of the state.
In an alarming context, the area witnessed a gas explosion at a filling station in Calabar last week that injured at least 60 individuals and damaged numerous vehicles and homes. Furthermore, the Federal Fire Service reported that Cross River State suffered losses exceeding N3 billion due to 18 fire incidents in 2025 alone.
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